Focus on Grammar An Introductory Course for Reference and Practice About the Authors Part of the Focus on Grammar Series, Second Edition Focus on Grammar: An Introductory Course for Reference and Practice, is the latest addition to the Focus on Grammar series. Written by practicing ESL professionals, the series focuses on English grammar through lively listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities. Both Controlled and Communicative Practice In order to learn the formal rules of a language, students need to practice new structures in a variety of contexts to help them internalize and master them. To this end, Focus on Grammar provides an abundance of both controlled and communicative exercises so that students can bridge the gap between knowing grammatical structures and using them. The many communicative activities in each unit enable students to personalize what they have learned in order to talk to each other with ease about hundreds of everyday issues. A Unique Four-Step Approach The series follows a unique four-step approach. In the first step, grammar in context, new structures are shown in the natural context of passages, articles, and dialogues. This is followed by a grammar presentation of structures in clear and accessible grammar charts, notes, and examples. The third step is focused practice of both form and meaning in numerous and varied controlled exercises. In the fourth step, communication practice, students use the new structures freely and creatively in motivating, open-ended activities. A Complete Classroom Text and Reference Guide A major goal in the development of Focus on Grammar, Second Edition has been to provide Student Books that serve not only as vehicles for classroom instruction but also as resources for reference and self-study. In each Student Book, the combination of grammar charts, grammar notes, and expansive appendices provides a complete and invaluable reference guide for the student. Thorough Recycling Underpinning the scope and sequence of the series as a whole is the belief that students need to use target structures many times in many contexts at increasing levels of difficulty. For this reason, new grammar is constantly recycled so that students will feel thoroughly comfortable with it. Comprehensive Testing Program SelfTests at the end of each part of the Student Book allow for continual assessment of progress. In addition, diagnostic and final tests in the Teacher's Manual provide a ready-made, ongoing evaluation component for each student.